Old Saint Paul's eBook

of fire and smoke poured through the aperture.
Notwithstanding this, he continued his exertions,
Judith shrieking all the time, until the lock at last
yielded. He then threw open the door, but finding
the whole passage involved in flame, was obliged to
close it. Judith had now risen, and their looks
at each other at this fearful moment were terrible
in the extreme. Retreating to either side of the
cell, they glared at each other like wild beasts.
Suddenly, Judith casting her eyes to the entrance
of the vault, uttered a yell of terror, that caused
her companion to look in that direction, and he perceived
that the stream of molten lead had gained it, and
was descending the steps. He made a rush towards
the door at the same time with Judith, and another
struggle ensued, in which he succeeded in dashing
her upon the floor. He again opened the door,
but was again driven backwards by the terrific flame,
and perceived that the fiery current had reached Judith,
who was writhing and shrieking in its embrace.
Before Chowles could again stir, it was upon him.
With a yell of anguish, he fell forward, and was instantly
stifled in the glowing torrent, which in a short time
flooded the whole chamber, burying the two partners
in iniquity, and the whole of their ill-gotten gains,
in its burning waves.

X.

CONCLUSION.

Lord Argentine proceeded, as directed by the king,
to the eastern end of Tower-street, where he found
Lord Craven, and having delivered him the king’s
missive, and shown him the signet, they proceeded to
the western side of the Tower Dock, and having procured
a sufficient number of miners and engineers, together
with a supply of powder from the fortress, commenced
undermining the whole of the row of habitations called
Tower-bank, on the edge of the dock, having first,
it is scarcely necessary to state, taken care to clear
them of their inhabitants. The powder deposited,
the trains were fired, and the buildings blown into
the air. At this time the whole of the western
side of the Tower Moat was covered with low wooden
houses and sheds, and, mindful of the king’s
instructions, Lord Argentine suggested to Lord Craven
that they should be destroyed. The latter acquiescing,
they proceeded to their task, and in a short time
the whole of the buildings of whatever description,
from the bulwark-gate to the city postern, at the
north of the Tower, and nearly opposite the Bowyer
Tower, were destroyed. Long before this was accomplished
they were joined by the Duke of York, who lent his
utmost assistance to the task, and when night came
on, a clear space of at least a hundred yards in depth,
had been formed between the ancient fortress and the
danger with which it was threatened.